A/N: okay so I put this up a little earlier than expected—it's Spring Break already, I have lots of time! This is considerably shorterthan the last, but just as good. :D
ADVENTURE INSIDE ADVENTURE
CHAPTER 2: BILL WEASLEY
Nothing seemed real anymore. The people on either side of Bill were strangers. They didn't know how he felt, none of them ever will. He saw the grass beneath his knees. He tore the blades up, one by one, trying to forget everything, trying to forget he was there.
But then he felt gentle, trembling hands and allowed them to raise him off the muddy backyard grass.
Ron….
They led him to a familiar kitchen; pots and pans glittering on the counter, laid there to get ready for a welcoming dinner, never to be made.
Ron….
He fell into a high-backed chair at the kitchen table, exhausted, drained, yet terrified. People were sitting down next to him, their eyes wide, their faces pale.
Ron….
He knew his mother; she leaned towards him and took his hand, holding it close to her body, fear etched on her face.
"Bill—please—"
His body raked with sobs, he was afraid, he didn't want to remember the awful truth.
"I—it—" he choked out, aware of everyone's eyes fixed upon him. He felt the hands on his shoulders squeeze encouragingly. He took a deep breath.
"It happened so fast—I was flying the same way, at least for awhile, as Tonks and R-Ron. After a few minutes, Death Eaters appeared out of nowhere, flanking us, wands drawn. I w-wanted to keep Fleur safe—I had forgotten how close we were to the other two. Out of the corner of my eye—I saw Bellatrix fly away from us—she must have been going after Tonks! I didn't realize at the time…"
He buried his face in his dirty hands, mumbling the rest of the story. "Then I heard a scream, high-pitched, must've been from Tonks—I whirled around just in time to see Bellatrix spinning around, holding tight to Ron and Tonks…and then…they were gone—"
"—and they never came back," whispered Fleur, "we waited—that's why we were so late getting back…" She dabbed her red eyes with a handkerchief, looking shaken and scared. Bill put an arm around her, and held her close, he couldn't bear to see her that way.
"So—," Fred croaked, breaking the silence, "Bellatrix forced them into Disapparation, then?" He was hugging himself, stunned, glancing nervously at George, still unconscious on the couch.
"But—there's no proof, that they're…well—gone?" Harry asked with a tint of hope in his voice. Hermione gave a soft cry, and hid her face in Harry's shoulder, shaking. Looking a bit surprised, Harry broke his gaze from Bill's face and put his arms around her.
"They'll be alright," Remus said softly, almost to himself. Bill turned towards Remus, who was sitting rigid on his chair, staring at George's still form, yet his eyes were unfocused.
"I—I'm really sorry, Remus," Bill said, his voice constricted. Remus said nothing. Bill looked at his mother, who was very white in the face, and still clutching his hand tightly.
"Mum—"
"I know—" His mum sniffed, "there was nothing you could do….y-you tried your best—"
Bill whipped his hand from hers, his face hot, "I could've done something, Mum! I could've saved both of them! Now they're who knows where, and we have no way of finding them! How do you think I feel right now?"
He got out of his chair, heart beating rapidly, shoving his father's hands off his shoulders. "I know what you're going to be like when this sinks in, all of you. You'll blame it all on me, won't you? It's past—it's over. They're gone."
Bill angrily wiped his tears away, and strode from the room. He barged past a stunned Hagrid, perhaps a bit more aggressive than was necessary. He could feel the heavy silence he had left behind, but would not look back, or stop walking away.
He entered his small bedroom, took one look at the family picture propped up on his bedside table, and slid down to the floor, overwhelmed with grief, suddenly glad he was finally alone.
A/N: well…let's all hug Bill, why don't we? I wanted him with the news cuz it's sorta like Moody's death. I didn't put it in, but Moody is NOT dead in this story. He left before Bill came back with Kingsley for duty. Mundungous DID freak and disapparate, but Moody was fine.